Methods and compositions for increasing infectivity of entomopathogenic nematodes
Inventors
Shapiro Ilan, David I. • Kaplan, Fatma
Assignees
Pheronym Inc • US Department of Agriculture USDA
Publication Number
US-12274268-B2
Publication Date
2025-04-15
Expiration Date
2040-02-25
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Abstract
Disclosed are methods for increasing infectivity of entomopathogenic nematodes in any target area for the purposes of insect control, said method comprising: (a) mixing an aqueous nematode infectivity increasing composition with (i) entomopathogenic nematodes to activate said entomopathogenic nematodes for increased infectivity prior to application of said entomopathogenic nematodes to said target area, or (ii) seeds to produce coated seeds, and(b) applying said entomopathogenic nematodes to said target area or planting said coated seeds in said target area;wherein said aqueous nematode infectivity increasing composition is produced by methods disclosed herein.
Core Innovation
The invention discloses methods and compositions for increasing the infectivity of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) used for insect control by treating nematodes or seeds with an aqueous nematode infectivity increasing composition. This composition is produced from nutrient depleted nematode growth medium, including liquid broth, agar medium, other solid substrates, or insect host cadavers, by extraction with alcohol, centrifugation, drying, and resuspension steps to yield a water-soluble pheromone extract that enhances nematode infectivity. The treated nematodes exhibit increased ability to infect insect hosts, improving biocontrol efficacy.
The problem addressed is the variable field efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes as biological control agents due to limitations in nematode dispersal and infectivity. Prior research showed nematode pheromones enhance dispersal, but it was unknown whether these or similar pheromones could increase nematode infectivity. It was also unknown how to extract, preserve, or deploy infectivity-increasing pheromones effectively.
The invention reveals that conspecific dispersal pheromones found in nematode growth medium can surprisingly increase infectivity of different species of EPNs having distinct foraging strategies. The pheromone extract is prepared via specific alcohol extraction and purification steps, and drying preserves its activity. Treatment of nematodes or coating seeds with this composition prior to application or planting activates the nematodes for enhanced infectivity. This method improves host insect mortality and can be applied in various environments including fields, greenhouses, and indoor agriculture.
Claims Coverage
The patent presents multiple independent claims focused on methods for producing stable dry and aqueous nematode infectivity increasing compositions and methods of increasing infectivity of entomopathogenic nematodes using such compositions.
Method of producing a stable dry nematode infectivity-increasing composition
Includes obtaining nutrient-depleted nematode growth medium by growing nematodes or insect hosts, mixing with alcohol at 10% to 90% concentration, centrifugation to remove solids, drying supernatant to a dry extract, resuspending in aqueous medium, centrifuging to remove water-insoluble compounds, and drying the water-soluble supernatant to produce a stable dry composition.
Method of producing an aqueous nematode infectivity-increasing composition
Comprises preparing the stable dry nematode infectivity-increasing composition as above and dissolving the dry composition in an aqueous medium to produce an aqueous nematode infectivity increasing composition.
Method of increasing infectivity of entomopathogenic nematodes or producing coated seeds
Involves mixing an effective amount of the aqueous nematode infectivity increasing composition with nematodes or seeds to activate nematodes prior to application or planting in a target area, where the aqueous composition is produced by extraction and purification steps from nutrient depleted nematode growth media or insect cadavers.
The claims cover the preparation of stable dry and aqueous pheromone-derived nematode infectivity increasing compositions from nutrient depleted growth media and their use in methods to enhance nematode infectivity via treatment of nematodes or coating of seeds prior to pest control applications.
Stated Advantages
Treatment with the nematode infectivity increasing composition enhances nematode infectivity, thereby improving biocontrol efficacy against insect pests.
Drying the pheromone extracts preserves the infectivity increasing activity which is otherwise labile in aqueous solutions.
The pheromone extract increases infectivity across nematode species with different foraging strategies and against diverse insect hosts from different orders.
Enhanced infectivity can improve efficiency in commercial nematode production and reduce required inoculum rates.
Documented Applications
Increasing infectivity of entomopathogenic nematodes applied in fields, greenhouses, orchards, perennial crops, home gardens, lawns, structures, and indoor agriculture.
Coating seeds with the nematode infectivity increasing composition and optionally nematodes to protect seedlings from insect pests upon planting.
Applying treated nematodes or coated seeds for insect control of pests in orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Siphonaptera, Hemiptera, and others.
Use of nematodes treated with the composition in commercial production to improve nematode efficacy.
Delivery methods including pretreatment before spraying, bait formulations, irrigation systems, and injection into plant tissues alongside nematodes.
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